Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9.5
Grassy and citric hops dominate the nose. Lime, grapefruit rind. Fresh biscuits too. Very smooth, although it has a big prickly palate from all the resins, and slight stickiness from the malt. Grapefruit rind is a big factor here, along with a big long bitter finish. Malt flavors are fresh and clean, but are clearly gasping for their voice beneath the hops. On the whole an absolutely top-notch double IPA, with all the hops AND malt one could want. They’re not lying, it is very drinkable. Pale amber with a smallish head and medium lacing.
jgb9348 (11828) reviewed Christmas Ale from Goose Island Beer Company 22 years ago
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 6.5
Dark brown colour with a nice thick light brown head...the way an old should look like! Hoppy aroma with the essence of 'wet feet'. A bit of fruit is noticed, but mostly hops and some malt. Medium-bodied; Flat taste with tobacco, smoke, mushrooms and a fair amount of hops noticeable in the taste. Aftertaste shows some prolonged musty qualities, but offers some subtle spiceyness. Overall, a decent beer...I was expecting a bit more from the appearance! Regardless, I was lucky to taste this twelve ounce bottle, acquired in a recent trade with BigBadBear63, sampled on 19-December-2003. Thanks again Mike!
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Bottled. Once in a while I gotta remember to have one of these as reminder of “how it all started” in this area. The Goose’s flagship beer is one of those that can start anybody on the road to good beer appreciation. An appealing orangey pour with a good head. Caramel roasty malts, and a floral/bitter hop character that only insinuates itself after a few sips. Toward the bottom of the glass, it even took on a bit of IPA character. Wonderful fruity ale taste.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
This Christmas concoction pours a dark ruby red-brown with a thin ring of off-white foam clinging to the glass. Nuts and caramel in the aroma. Flavor is rich and succulent; I detect wood, dark candied fruits, nuts, caramel, and floral hops. A rich and remarkable brew, perfect for the season.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9.5
Bottled. Ah, yes. The Goose was the first brewpub I ever knew of, and I enjoyed grabbing a couple of Gooses by the neck... and then this came along: the first beer that made me say, "Oh... my... freakin' God!" Now it's out in bottles though hard to find:
A deeper Imperial Stout-type nose. Big bourbon flavor, even powerful like a Hennessey. Beautiful black with red highlights. I saw the bourbon barrels they were aging this in at the brewery a few months back, and I'm pleased to say they've bottled it beautifully!
Sloefmans (15389) reviewed Christmas Ale from Goose Island Beer Company 22 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7
Dark chestnut; thin yellowish head. Rich malts, fruity esters and preserved fruits in the nose. Taste with smoked tones, some kind of latter days' kids' sweet, dates. Full bodied, slick, oily mouthfeel. Aftertaste is bitter at first, then sweet fruits fill the inner cavities. Nothing bad. Just not to rave about.
Clarkvv (16523) reviewed Summertime from Goose Island Beer Company 22 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 5.5
Pours an amber with some yellow/orange tinges. Little to no head and quite clear. Aroma smells slightly citrusy, slightly crisp and yeasty. Begins spicy, with some dry citrus fruit tones and moderate acidity. Only mildly sweet, but in the finish there was a candyish malt that seemed a bit too powerful and unbalanced. It was slightly sour and cloying after I had had 2 or 3 of these beers. Aftertaste was not good, and had this old, syrupy malt flavor lingering. Carbonation added too much of a peppery texture. Medium bodied is a stretch.
JK (8181) reviewed IPA from Goose Island Beer Company 22 years ago
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Complex aroma with citrus, grapes, some tobacco, and lots of hops. Light amber color with a very big, thick head. Flavor of bitter hops. Aftertaste is also bitter with some malt. Medium bodied. Well done.
Silphium (4308) reviewed IPA from Goose Island Beer Company 22 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
On the teeter-totter of pine versus grapefruit, pine won this one. So much so, in fact, that my bottle was actually infested by the southern pine beetle. Unfortunately, piney IPAs are becoming rarer and rarer due to the affection of this peculiar insect for the resinous, bitter aroma of Pinus virginiana. Luckily, I detected no sawflies, so I plunged into the glass with the fervor of a child opening Christmas presents. And it was good. Comes across as a lighter-bodied cousin of DFH 90 Minute IPA. Aroma is piney, and the flavor is dynamic bitter hops and crisp malts. Solid.
JK (8181) reviewed Summertime from Goose Island Beer Company 22 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Mild aroma of hops. Appearance is light gold and a little cloudy. Heavily carbonated. Taste of a full bodied pilsner. Light and refreshing. Good finish of bitter hops.